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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. tube — a container
  3. face — part of the head
  4. face — to point toward
  5. bulb — for light
  6. key — in music
  7. key — for a lock
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. bulb — for light
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. key — the most important part
  18. pit — in a race
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. pit — a hole
  21. tube — the underground
  22. perch — the fish
  23. face — to confront
  24. perch — for a bird

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com